I love feeling connected to nature. I started something new this year that brought a new meaning to each hike. I concentrated on feeling gratitude. I felt gratitude towards the trees that granted me shade and shelter. I felt gratitude towards the mountains for giving me stunning views. Gratitude towards towards trail markings for guiding me. Gratitude for the wind for cooling me down. Everything that I felt or saw I found a reason to feel gratitude.

Focusing on these things made me appreciate the hike and the views in an entirely new way. I felt an overwhelming sense of appreciation and joy. In a way that I couldn’t really describe to you in words.

I think we could all use a little more gratitude in our daily lives. I think we have a tendency to take too much for granted, especially the beauty of the world around us.

So today and every day, I give thanks

]]>https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2017/06/21/i-am-woman/feed/3IMG_3119annajbruntonGrand Ideashttps://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2017/06/19/grand-ideas/
https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2017/06/19/grand-ideas/#respondMon, 19 Jun 2017 19:46:28 +0000http://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/?p=711]]>I think I had this big idea that if I left the safety net of home I would flourish. That every demon in my past would disappear. That moving would somehow change me and make me a different person. I guess I learned that it doesn’t work that way.

While moving wasn’t the ultimate answer to my ongoing search (don’t ask what I’m searching for cause I couldn’t tell ya), I did get to explore some pretty amazing places.

I think my favorite hike of all the hikes I did in Oregon was to Punch Bowl Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. It was one of the first hikes I did alone in the PNW and it was my first sight of that beautiful blue water.

I can still close my eyes and picture it now. The intense sound of the water crashing down into a vibrant blue pool of water. Foggy clouds drifting out of the trees, their green just as intense as the blue water. The sky was a dreary grey which seemed to intensify every color around me. I felt like I was in a rain forest, dwarfed by the giant trees. I found a secluded spot of the trail and closed my eyes. The rumble of the crashing water deafening, drowning out the rest of the world.

I remember feeling as though I walked into a magical land. Where nothing but peace and beauty existed.

]]>https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2017/06/19/grand-ideas/feed/0Hidden HeartannajbruntonComing Homehttps://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2017/05/25/coming-home/
https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2017/05/25/coming-home/#respondThu, 25 May 2017 15:59:50 +0000http://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/?p=692]]>Phew! Life has been a whirlwind! But that’s what makes it beautiful.

To keep it short, in January of last year I packed up all of my belongings in my car and left my home in North Carolina to find a new home in Portland.

People warned me about the rain. I thought, it can’t be that bad! I am a Brit after all. Man oh man! I was so wrong! Winter was rough for me there. So Much Rain! Don’t get me wrong, I loved it there. The coast was AMAZING and the Columbia River Gorge was breathtaking. I got to explore a part of the world that I had literally only ever seen in photographs. I made some wonderful memories and saw some amazing sights.

Being away from home made me realize that North Carolina is just that, home. I love it here and while I enjoyed my adventure in Portland, I am oh so happy to be back in the first place I have loved enough to call it home. I lived in a lot of places and never felt connected enough to the place to feel like I was home.

So I am BACK! Bear Bait and I will be making a strong return together! I can’t wait share our new adventures and our old ones with you. I have lots to share from year in the Pacific Northwest!

I am entirely aware of how alone I am. Not a soul on the trail besides my own, joined only by the chirps of the birds as they hop from tree to tree. There is only silence around me, I take little comfort in my solitude. Every noise a thunderous crashing, courtesy of hopping squirrels and little birds. As I realize the source behind these thunderous footsteps, a small smile creeps upon my face. I start to relax a little and take more comfort in my surroundings. This is where I belong. This well-known path that my feet have travelled countless times.

I am higher than the clouds, dense blankets of white and grey rolling through the valleys.The familiar horizon of the blue ridge mountains has disappeared behind the soft, fluffy blankets. I watch in awe as they creep slowly out of the valleys, an eerie, smokey mist disappearing into the sky. Stray wisps of clouds roll up and over the mountain tops, cascading over their peaks.

The wind is my constant companion, howling in the depths of the valleys and whistling gently in my ears, inviting the cold to bite at the tips of them. The sun is warm, but the chilly breeze bites at my exposed skin. My ears even sting from the cold.

Along the path, I find a rock that hangs over the edge of the mountain, hills cascading down below it. Immediately I make myself comfortable and soak in all that there is to see. I am perched on a mountain top, the sun warming my back. I feel disconnected from the stress that invades my daily life. I am relaxed. Happy. At peace.
The trees are slowly losing their vivid bright green hues, losing the battle to vibrant oranges, yellows and reds. The mountains are a collage of beautiful warm tones. Fall is here. Fall is really, finally here. I breath in deeply. The air is pure and crisp, even warm underneath the morning sun. The path is visible from my perch, inviting me to explore a little further…

What a beautiful day to be alive.

]]>https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/09/24/first-day-of-fall/feed/035.595058 -82.55148735.595058-82.551487Mountain PeaceannajbruntonBlankets of CloudsMountain SketchesIMG_9538Life Gets In The Way Sometimes (and that’s ok)https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/06/02/life-gets-in-the-way-sometimes-and-thats-ok/
https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/06/02/life-gets-in-the-way-sometimes-and-thats-ok/#commentsTue, 02 Jun 2015 19:20:29 +0000http://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/?p=683]]>Life has a tendency to get in the way. It’s easy to get lost in the day to day busyness of it all. I’ll admit that I’ve gotten sucked into it. It’s easy to let go of hiking plans after a 6-day 60+hour work week. By the time my free day rolls around I either have a ton of errands to do or I’m just flat out exhausted. And as each of those free days slide by without any hikes it gets easier and easier to skip again and again. I am so guilty of this. I keep telling myself that this time I’m gonna go on a long hike but then I wake up and I barely feel like getting out of bed let alone tackling a mountain.

So tell me this? Do you ever feel beaten down and exhausted by your work week that by the time your weekend rolls around you’ve lost the motivation to go hiking? What do you to overcome it. I think it’s easier to find motivation by hiking with friends rather than hiking solo. While I love the freedom of hiking solo having someone else hold me accountable can be kind of necessary sometimes (though there are plenty more reasons to hike with friends other than accountability).

I guess what I’m trying to say is that these days I’m feeling pretty burnt out by the time I have a free day to go hiking and I’m struggling to find the motivation and energy to go. I’ve also come to accept that it’s ok if I don’t get out every weekend or every free day that I have. My body needs a rest sometimes and it’s good to have a lazy day once in a while as long as I don’t make a habit of it. Do you have any tips to get me going again?

On the plus side, I’ve been trail running a lot lately! It’s been a great workout and I’m getting that time outside during my work week (plus my dog is really enjoying getting out too). I’ve been having less knee pain with each run as I get stronger. And my times are steadily getting faster. It feels amazing to be running again! I have my first 5k this friday! And I’ve got a four mile race next friday! I’m pretty pumped! While I might not be hiking as much at the moment I’m glad that I’m spending some time trail running!

I’ll post later this week with updates on what I’ve been up to! Happy Tuesday and Happy Trails!

]]>https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/06/02/life-gets-in-the-way-sometimes-and-thats-ok/feed/735.595058 -82.55148735.595058-82.551487312annajbruntonLive Your Kurgo Adventurehttps://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/04/28/live-your-kurgo-adventure/
https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/04/28/live-your-kurgo-adventure/#respondTue, 28 Apr 2015 18:26:52 +0000http://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/?p=673]]>A while ago I entered a contest on a whim. I didn’t think it would ever go anywhere so I don’t think I ever fully admitted to myself just how much I wanted to win this. The contest is being hosted by Kurgo, a company that makes outdoor & travel products for dogs. They are picking 4 winners to sponsor a dream adventure with their four-legged friend.

If I win I’ll be able to thru-hike the entirety of the Mountains to Sea Trail (I’ll be paddling about 200 miles and hiking 940 miles). The trail extends the width of the state of North Carolina, starting at Clingman’s Dome at the border of Tennesse & North Carolina and continuing to the Outer Banks.

There are a lot of logistics that I still have to figure out with this hike, there’s not one complete fully accurate guidebook yet since the trail has yet to be completed. But I’ve been trying not to look into that too much yet since I didn’t want to get my hopes up.

So why do I want to win?

Obviously, it’s the adventure of a lifetime. An amazing way to celebrate completing a year with AmeriCorps. And also, what could possibly be a better way to bring in your 25 birthday? But to me, this opportunity is so much more than just a chance to have an amazing adventure. Don’t get me wrong, spend just over two months on the trail with Harley would be a dream come true. I know that every day would bring a new exciting challenge and I know that this would be the ultimate life for him. He truly loves being on the trail. He curls up in my sleeping bag with me at night and in the mornings he’s ready to go, tail wagging and excited for more adventure. He is, really and truly, the best hiking companion I’ve ever had. He has his flaws too, but doesn’t everyone?

I don’t want this hike just for me and Harley though. I want this hike because it would provide me with such an incredible opportunity to connect with so many people, to inspire them to get outside. I would give anything to be able to connect with more women to encourage them to get outside. I want families to feel like they can get outside, inspire the nature bug in their children. Nature is our foundation, our connection to the world and we simply don’t do enough to educate people on the benefits of being outside.

Outdoor sports have predominantly been run by men but women are beginning to take it by storm! I want to show women that we can do this too, that we are strong and able enough to complete a solo thru-hike. Along those lines, I want to use this hike as a way to create a fundraisers for organizations that already do that.

SheJumps is a great program that empower women everywhere to get outside more often. I’m looking forward to working with them more in the future, but they are a very deserving organization.

The Outdoor Women’s Alliance is another great program that is currently working to start an outdoor education program in public schools across the U.S. Having spent the past school year volunteering with AmeriCorps and seeing how school’s work this is something that I’m incredibly passionate about and I would love to see the program become successful.

For a while I was afraid to admit just how badly I wanted to win this competition. But I do, I really want this opportunity. This hike is not something that I can afford on my own. Anyone who knows anything about life in AmeriCorps knows that a savings account is not in our vocabulary. I’m not complaining, it’s simply a fact of life when in AmeriCorps.

I would love to live a life on the trail and explore so much of the history of a state that has become home for me. Moving to North Carolina provided me so many wonderful experiences and changed my life for the better, I would give anything to see all that this beautiful state has to offer. I want to give Harley an epic adventure that I just know that he would love. The two of us are so connected and to further that bond by spending two(ish) months hiking and paddling would be simply fantastic. And to have the opportunity to connect with and hopefully inspire so many people would be beyond my wildest dreams. I don’t even have the words to describe how much this hike would mean to me.

This whole experience has been humbling. I’ve received so much support from so many people. It has made me feel truly loved and to see the excitement others have when I tell them about my dreams only furthers my own excitement. Even if I don’t win, I’ll be thankful to have made it this far. But please, if you could take a second to vote for me and share this with your friends Harley and I will be eternally grateful.

]]>https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/04/28/live-your-kurgo-adventure/feed/035.595058 -82.55148735.595058-82.551487iPhone upload 9.25.14 533annajbruntoniPhone upload 9.25.14 442iPhone upload 9.25.14 810iPhone Upload 6.5.14 1212iPhone Upload 6.5.14 1014505628Apologies & Adventureshttps://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/04/23/apologies-adventures/
https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/04/23/apologies-adventures/#commentsThu, 23 Apr 2015 19:02:23 +0000http://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/?p=668]]>It’s been far too long since I’ve posted on here, and for that I apologize. Life has taken on a craziness of it’s own and time seems to be flying by with little down time! I’m not going to complain though! It’s been wonderful (albeit slightly exhausting).

So what’s new?

Things are busy! I have started working a second job at a backpacking store to start saving for a road trip. That’s what’s eating up most of my free time. But it’s fun! I love it! And I’m learning so much about gear!

I’m wrapping up the spring semester at the high school I volunteer at, I think we’re all ready for summer break.

I’ve completed physical therapy, though I’m still dealing with knee pain and working to explore other options of fixing the problem.

My most recent clumsy moment happened this past weekend and ended with a trip to the hospital and 7 stitches in my knee. So unfortunately I’ll be off of the trails for the next two weeks at minimum. I have a backpacking trip planned for the first weekend of May and I’m really hoping that I’ll be healed enough by then to go!

On a much more awesome note, I am planning a road trip out to Colorado for the month of August! I am so unbelievably excited and I cannot wait to see all of the beautiful sights that the state has to offer. I am spending all of my free researching and finding the best places to go. Any suggestions? I’d be glad to hear them!!

Even more awesome?! I am in the final 15 for a contest with Kurgo to win the adventure of a lifetime! If I win I will be setting out with my four-legged friend, Bear Bait, in September to hike and kayak the length of the Mountains to Sea Trail in North Carolina. The trail is about 1,000 miles long and will take me about 2 months to complete. I will be using the hike to create a fundraiser for organizations that create outdoor opportunities for girls and women. Please help me win by voting for me here:

This would be such an amazing opportunity for both Harley (Bear Bait) and I. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate all of the joy and happiness this boy has brought me. As much as he loves being on the trail and curling up in tents with me, I know that this would be the ultimate trip for him. I am so lucky to of even made it this far.

Thank you all so much!

I am slowly adjusting to the life of busy-ness and as I get a better handle on things I promise to start posting more. I sincerely apologize for my absence lately!

]]>https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/04/23/apologies-adventures/feed/8481annajbrunton460Why I Hike Solohttps://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/03/24/why-i-hike-solo/
https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/03/24/why-i-hike-solo/#commentsTue, 24 Mar 2015 14:20:37 +0000http://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/?p=666]]>In case you missed it, I got an ambassadorship with Oboz Footwear! I am more than ecstatic. To say that I love their boots is an understatement. I honestly only own Oboz boots (I currently own four pairs with eyes on a couple more). Every pair has gone above and beyond my expectations. I tested out my Beartooth BDry backpacking boots over the weekend and loved them. Considering that I really did no work breaking them, my feet fared surprisingly well!

Anyways, I’ll write a review on all of the boots soon enough. The point of this post was to tell you that my first article for Oboz was published last week! I wrote about why I hike solo. You can find the post here. I’d also recommend checking out some of the other articles! There are some awesome articles from some very experienced hikers! It’s pretty amazing to be a part of such a great team of ambassadors.

I don’t hike for the physical benefits (though that’s an added bonus). I hike to stay sane, to have a way to unwind and disconnect from the technology that runs my life during the week. I spend five days a week surrounded by hundreds of people as the Community Outreach Coordinator for AmeriCorps Project POWER, and by the end of the week I’m drained. I am an introvert. Which means that when the weekend rolls around, all I want is alone time on the trails.

When I first started hiking solo, at age 22, I knew nothing. I had no experience or skills to prepare myself for being alone on a long trail….

]]>https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/03/24/why-i-hike-solo/feed/3annajbruntonHappy Anniversary!https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/happy-anniversary/
https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/happy-anniversary/#commentsMon, 23 Mar 2015 20:04:38 +0000http://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/?p=664]]>Things have been busier than normal at work, I’ve been working more hours than normal, so I apologize for the lack of posts lately, but things are beginning to slow down for a little bit so I’ll be back in full force soon!

That being said, I’ve still been finding the time to get outside. This past weekend marked my one year anniversary of my first ever backpacking trip. Naturally, I had to celebrate, and what better way to celebrate than to go on my first solo backpacking trip.

Knowing that this was my first solo trip I wanted to go somewhere that I knew well and I wanted it to be fairly easy so that I wouldn’t hurt my knee again. So I picked my favorite spot: Black Balsam Knob. This area is hands down one of my favorite spots near Asheville, the views are always phenomenal, you can make it a loop or an out-and-back, and it’s challenging enough to keep it interesting but not so hard that I can’t handle it with my bad knee.

This trail served as a reminder of just how out of practice I am. I definitely have some work to do to get used to the weight of a pack again as well as getting back in shape.

I was able to set out in early afternoon, the trail was populated but not so crowded that I couldn’t enjoy the views. I stuck to the Art Loeb trail, which is not marked so I suggest getting a map before taking this trail! Within a view hours I was near the Shining Rock Wilderness area, I prefer to camp outside of this area knowing that fires are not permitted. I scoped out a beautiful, secluded campsite and got everything set up with enough time to keep wandering the trail in Shining Rock Wilderness. There’s a great spring on the trail, not far past the sign, so be sure to bring a bottle and you filter so you can refill. I know my dog was happy to get some fresh water. I didn’t want too far though because I wanted to have enough daylight to prepare a small campfire and dinner. On my way back I passed a large group of campers, maybe some Boy Scouts? But they were the only campers I’d seen so far and it was a comfort to know that they were relatively close to my campsite.

The night passed uneventfully, other than sounds of coyotes in the distance and my dog’s paranoia. Eventually he settled down in the sleeping bag with me and we slept soundly. Maybe a little too soundly, I didn’t get moving until almost 9:00 (whoops). The hike back out was less populated and I took more time to stop and enjoy the views. I felt more relaxed since I didn’t have the time crunch to get to a campsite.

Spending the night in the woods alone left me feeling revamped and energized. I finally did something that I’ve been wanting to do for ages but have been too nervous. I kept giving myself excuses and telling myself I’d go next weekend. I finally told myself I needed to do it, just get over the fears and do it. I am so glad that I did. A year ago I never would have imagined that I would have the skill set necessary to be spending a night alone in the woods. Now I can’t wait to get back out there and do it again. There was so much freedom to being out there, I was on my own time schedule, no one to rush me and no one to keep up with. I could set my own tempo and stop to enjoy the scenery whenever I wanted. Sure, the downside is that there’s no one to calm you down when you hear those creepy noises just outside of your tent… But that’s part of the magic. I was the one to distract myself. I took care of myself and my dog entirely and I feel stronger and more confident because of it.

Next time, though, I’ll be sure to pack the sunscreen

Happy Trails!

Pics coming soon!

]]>https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/happy-anniversary/feed/3annajbruntonWhy Hello There Spring!https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/why-hello-there-spring/
https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/why-hello-there-spring/#commentsTue, 17 Mar 2015 18:55:25 +0000http://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/?p=656]]>Oh happy days! Spring is here in full force and I am soaking it up as much as possible! I have spent the past three days on wonderful hikes, my trusty four legged side-kick has been loving all of this exercise, and I am determined to continue spending as much time as possible outside on the trails. I plan on hiking again tomorrow and backpacking this weekend. To say that I’m hooked again is an understatement. I am so lucky to live in a place where trails are so easily accessible and now that the sun is setting later it makes it much easier to get out after work.

I have several hikes to tell you about but I’ll start with first I did this week: John Rock, Brevard, NC

The trail head to John Rock is easily accessible and not far from the Blue Ridge Parkway, and very close to the heart of Brevard. As part of the Pisgah National Forest, the hike up to John Rock is beautiful to say the least. I’m in the ‘taking it easy’ or ‘easing into it’ phase of hiking since I got the green light from my doctors to start hiking again. As much as I want to push myself I really have to focus on picking easier trails that aren’t too steep, the last thing I want to do is end up at the doctors office again.

John Rock is an easy 5 Mile loop. We opted out of the loop part because it would be steeper and I can’t handle that just yet. The trail crosses over sections of creeks with well maintained bridges or strategically placed rocks. My four-legged child had a blast splashing around in the water and it gave him a chance to cool off. We passed several people on the way up setting up their campsites, and I’ll admit that I was a little green with envy (maybe next time).

Signs of spring popped up all over the trail, specks of green fighting to overrun the brown that winter left behind. Rhododendrons and Mountain Laurel offered some shelter from the warm spring sun, it’s rays a shock to my skin that had grown so used to the cold winter winds. Once we reached the top the views were spectacular, John Rock looks out onto Looking Grass Rock and onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, the river just a small line in the distance. Clouds threatened to flow over the mountains in the distance, the dark gray formations threatening to get us wet on the descent.

We rested on the rock, enjoying the views and the gentle breeze that cooled us down. I could have stayed there for hours, the peace that fills me in these moments is enough to fuel me for the week. As the clouds neared us we decided it was best to start heading back, I knew it was going to be slow-going because of my knee. We made it back to the car with no problem, and for the most part we had the trail to ourselves, despite the amazing weather. for a second a gentle mist threatened to bring on heavier rain, but the clouds remained merely a threat and nothing more. Not that I would have minded the rain.

Looking Glass Rock

We ended the day at Oskar Blues Brewery, just a quick drive up the road. Nothing like a sunset, good beer, good food, and good company to end a perfect day of hiking.

I am so thankful to be hiking again. I couldn’t have asked for better weather this past weekend. I have so many trails to explore and a lot of work today as build up to carry weight and adding distance and steeper climbs. I feel more relaxed than I have in a long time. I just have to remind myself to keep up with physical therapy.